Cornelius Sends a Delegation

10 There was a certain man in aCaesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian 1Regiment, 2 ba devout man and one who cfeared God with all his household, who gave 2alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About 3the ninth hour of the day dhe saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!”

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. 5 Now esend men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. 6 He is lodging with fSimon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. gHe 4will tell you what you must do.” 7 And when the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. 8 So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa.

Peter’s Vision

9 The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, hPeter went up on the housetop to pray, about 5the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and isaw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! jFor I have never eaten anything common or unclean.”

15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, k“What God has 6cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Summoned to Caesarea

17 Now while Peter 7wondered within himself what this vision which he had seen meant, behold, the men who had been sent from Cornelius had made inquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate. 18 And they called and asked whether Simon, whose surname was Peter, was lodging there.

19 While Peter thought about the vision, lthe Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are seeking you. 20 mArise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.”

21 Then Peter went down to the men 8who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

22 And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and nhas a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.” 23 Then he invited them in and lodged them.

On the next day Peter went away with them, oand some brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

Peter Meets Cornelius

24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, p“Stand up; I myself am also a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many who had come together. 28 Then he said to them, “You know how qunlawful it is for a Jewish man to keep company with or go to one of another nation. But rGod has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean. 29 Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

30 So Cornelius said, 9“Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, sa man stood before me tin bright clothing, 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, uyour prayer has been heard, and vyour 1alms are remembered in the sight of God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and call Simon here, whose surname is Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. 2When he comes, he will speak to you.’ 33 So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God.”

Preaching to Cornelius’ Household

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: w“In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But xin every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is yaccepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the 3children of Israel, zpreaching peace through Jesus Christ—aHe is Lord of all—37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and bbegan from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how cGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who dwent about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, efor God was with Him. 39 And we are fwitnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom 4they gkilled by hanging on a tree. 40 Him hGod raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 inot to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us jwho ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And kHe commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify lthat it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge mof the living and the dead. 43 nTo Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, owhoever believes in Him will receive premission 5of sins.”

The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

44 While Peter was still speaking these words, qthe Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 rAnd 6those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, sbecause the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.

Then Peter answered, 47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit tjust as we have?” 48 uAnd he commanded them to be baptized vin the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

Peter Defends God’s Grace

11 Now the apostles and brethren who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, athose of the circumcision contended with him, 3 saying, b“You went in to uncircumcised men cand ate with them!”

4 But Peter explained it to them din order from the beginning, saying: 5 e“I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. 6 When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’ 10 Now this was done three times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 At that very moment, three men stood before the house where I was, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 Then fthe Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover gthese six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house. 13 hAnd he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, 14 who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, ias upon us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, j‘John indeed baptized with water, but kyou shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 lIf therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, mwho was I that I could withstand God?”

18 When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, n“Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life.”

Barnabas and Saul at Antioch

19 oNow those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to pthe Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And qthe hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and rturned to the Lord.

22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out sBarnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and tencouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, ufull of the Holy Spirit and of faith. vAnd a great many people were added to the Lord.

25 Then Barnabas departed for wTarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

Relief to Judea

27 And in these days xprophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named yAgabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of zClaudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send arelief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 bThis they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

Herod’s Violence to the Church

12 Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. 2 Then he killed James athe brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during bthe Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So cwhen he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four 1squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Peter Freed…